Deehan's Pensieve

I graduated and it felt like a million bucks!

The journey wasn't very smooth and I am convinced it was God's way to show me what He is capable of.  I witnessed how God tamed the ferocious storms that tried to pull me away from the monumental graduation day. He is really the best!

I think the greatest realization I've learned from this three years of roller-coaster ride is that God will allow you to be in dire situations just to see if you can still remember Him. I realized that I must never frown when I am challenged by the matters of the circumstances beyond to what I can take. I'll give the world my best smile because I know my God is faithful and He will never forsake me.

I experienced trials along the way.

The typhoon ruined not only parts of our house but also three of our sources of income. It ruined the two stalls Mama owned and the bananas which my Papa is earning additional income. It also ruined the utility poles and thus leaving us with no electricity. It's obvious that I didn't have good internet connection too! I wasn't able to work and do my research for a month. The normal course of my life halted.Our town looked never been that depressing. Even if terror filled the air, I have always known that my God harbors plans that will not ruin me. The typhoon was also the reason why my graduate school thesis demanded an overhaul. The original study was no longer relevant after the typhoon - I was alarmed but I didn't freak out!

How did my great God saved me?

I couldn't even count the amazing ways He did. The most remarkable was when I felt that He blessed those people around me and made them pillars in lifting me out of my predicaments. The experience made me marvel more at the things that my great God can do because of his unfailing love to me. I am so touched by His loyalty to me.

His ways will always be peculiar and the greatest!

With me is my soul-sister. So glad she came \(*o*)/ She traveled for nearly 8 hours by bus just to make it to my graduation day! Isn't that moving? I love you teh Ahwel !

Took a plunge! Samal is love! Isla Reta served as the rendezvous of nature, fun and love!

This is the reward! Oh I'm soooooooo captivated by the sight I was eying here!

Now, I am back to work!

In the pink! ( the first photo in this collage is actually a happy face..LOL )

Have a great day folks!

The consumer Cooperative members in the highlands of Maragusan.

Taken Friday, March 08,2013 at Poblacion, Maragusan,Compostela Valley.

The landmark welcoming us to Maragusan,Compostela Valley.

Lucky trees! The typhoon didn't have much impact in this area.

That's our President and the town Mayor.

Ha ha I just took the photo as this signage was along the national highway. I wish I could have a peek  of what the resort has to offer. oh, I didn't have the luxury of time to do that. ;'C

I'm exhausted beyond words but the more I come to think about it,the more I feel happy about myself. My mortal frame is really screaming of the body pains I had when I went to Mahayahay,Maragusan yesterday. I must reach the place for my data gathering and it was located on top of a mountain.It came as a bolt out of the blue because I wasn't expecting that the road wold be as rocky as hell. Well, what can you expect from a storm-torn place like our province?

They're fixing some parts of the road. The river became so big that it swallowed parts of the road.

The harsh winds last December spared this area.

Way up to the mountain.

The bananas in the Municipality of Maragusan were spared too!

Yeah, thank God my father is an adept motorcycle driver!

No other route except this terrain!

Met a giant truck. It got so dusty after this monster passed us. It was loaded with  stones to be extracted for gold ores.

I think it's refreshingly beautiful.

 The journey caused me several bruises but also allowed me to strike lots of smiles when I eyed the verdant scenery teeming with life. To me, they were all screaming of  a promise, a promise that one day,things will get better and that typhoon just ignited how strong-willed we are. We will reach our lofty dreams even after being wrecked by that typhoon .Yes, we will! Anyway, I feel happy that the storm still spared beautiful spots to flourish and it made my heart overwhelmed and serenaded with the beauty and enigma of life. How wonderful!

Their neighbors are the clouds. This was the place I visited yesterday. This is a community in the highlands of Mahayahay, Maragusan,Compostela Valley Province. It took us 45 minutes of a crazy  motorcycle ride from the Municipality of Maragusan just to reach this place. I nearly fell off the motorcycle several times!

There are only three consumer cooperatives in the province and the two of them are located in the remotest part of the Compostela Valley highlands. I've chosen to study the consumer cooperatives in our province because in Japan consumer Cooperatives are very successful and most of Japanese people are members of consumer coops. Then, the typhoon came last December and my thesis adviser told me I must change the topic of my thesis. It's now about the financial and economic resiliency of the consumer cooperatives after the typhoon. Pretty challenging to devour! I've been saying that this whole thesis writing thing fells like swallowing an erratic Elephant. Yes, I'm serious. Ha ha ha!

People living near Mahayahay,Maragusan are earning in selling vegetables. I remember seeing tomato gardens and  vast Chayote fields.

I saw harvested Chayote ready to be placed in sacks and be transported to Maragusan.

In the upper left part, you can see the Chayote garden. Farmers harvest the Chayote by going underneath  those vines. No snakes? I'm not quite sure! Ha ha ha!

The Chayote Garden that I've seen for the first time. I'm glad we reached the place and finally tried to get things done.The people were amiable. I had no trouble in making them answer my survey questionnaires except of course of the great need to translate English to our native language which I find as not a big trouble. The people here were mainly farmers and most of them didn't finish college. I feel grateful of their being so welcoming. I went home feeling severely exhausted but satisfied. I felt getting much closer to my dreams.I'm muscling my way into that stratosphere!Ha ha ha! -- note: blog written last March 9 and polished then published March 11,2013  .

It's true.When the going gets tough,the tough gets going!I must endure!"When things are difficult, strong people take action and do not despair."That's it!

I've been really busy thinking about my thesis. I haven't even got a haircut.Oh well,it seems that my hair now has a mind of its own.It goes wherever it pleases.Oh! I need a haircut!I had two weeks off from school and I did all sorts of relaxation I could possibly have because this November will be really challenging.Yes, I forgot the haircut thing!

I am having a sore throat now and yesterday was the most terrible. I couldn't work because I couldn't talk  I know I've been harsh to my vocal chords by often screaming joyfully whenever my Dog learns a new trick and telling almost everyone I know about it (Oh just like now..hahaha ). I could actually say same lines,  with same energy to different people if it's about my Dog! (Of course , with eyes teeming with happiness ! ) This sore throat is possibly because of the weather and because I've been not really taking care of my throat . Today, I resumed teaching and I've been very touched ( I am a softy, you know!) when students sent their messages hoping I'll be fine soon. I think I can be really very fine soon because many people are thinking and praying for me! How sweet!

Here are their  messages:
Student #1
" I hope you get well soon!" 

This is from a student living in Yokohama-shi.She's my student every morning!

Student #2
" Teacher Janie, I am sorry for writing to you without permission .. I am the student who was to have a lesson from you at 24:30 November the 5th. I heard that you were ill  ;(  and I couldn't help writing to you and saying I really hope you will get well soon ! Please take good care of yourself, sometimes freed from your studies and work. I am looking forward to seeing you again in the next lesson ! Mythy "


This one is from another student who can talk as fast as I can!
-

Student #3
"Janie-san,take care and I want to hear your voice soon.You are always happy and busy .Please relax your voice. I received the notice from GNA about your condition. I understand so don't worry.See you!"

This is from an old lady living with her cats. I just love her stories!


Life is really great!  This is what I like about this job,it really doesn't feel like working! I never thought I'll become a teacher. I initially wanted to become a nurse . Nursing used to be popular here and my best friend Honey wanted to become a nurse (she is a nurse now). I never really had an idea of what should I become. Oh, I am so scared of blood, corpses and I am a softy - no good to become a nurse! For me, a hospital is a very stressful place. I am sad whenever old people are left behind by their relatives and are there by themselves. I also think it's a very risky job. What if I'll give the wrong medicine??? I just can't imagine how tragic it will be! I took up a business degree because my father doesn't want me to study English more.He insisted that I am already good at it so I must not study it. I protested but he won. Oh, I actually won! I became an English teacher even with a business degree.Hahaha! I had my OJT in a bank but I never liked working in a bank. I will die with the tons of paper works! Teaching is what I want. I realized that so late! It was only when I started teaching with GNA. Now, I am working but I never had that "Monday Blues". I look forward of seeing students. I enjoy teaching kids,single moms, busy dads, charming grandmothers, funny grandfathers, university students and Japanese English teachers who are still taking GNA lessons to polish their English skills. It's so interesting! I can talk with so many things. In the bank, I will only talk about "banking" matters. I find that really boring!  Now, my goal is to become a University Professor. I will become one!

Oh! I have a VERY good news! I got exempted for the Comprehensive Exam. That means I got the average necessary for me to proceed into writing my thesis right away! So Happyyyyyyyyyy!!! I thank God for the wisdom! I already got my thesis adviser and I like his being enthusiastic. I am hopeful I'll graduate next year. I must graduate this term because it's so expensive to go to school . I must finish this!

Anyway, I recently got another favorite from Jollibee( a fast food restaurant in PH , it's like McDonald's).
It's their new Milo Blast!






This has been my ultimate love -Peach Mango Pie from Jollibee!



 note: photos were just googled.




I should be fine soon so that I can eat my Milo Blast! Good night!

Photos were taken inside my purple room. It was still so early in the morning and I don't really need to wear sunglasses outside .Hahaah I just tried to take photos of myself wearing my sunglasses (just checking if I look cool wearing it..haha).This was taken before I started traveling to my school.(Oct.13,2012)

 Hello! I finally finished my two examinations. Yes, only two. I was supposed to take three final examinations last Saturday but my Professor decided to move our Business Policy and Strategy exam on Oct. 20. Actually, I wanted all my examinations to end that day. I wanted to be free from the burden of studying so many things. However, I think God knows that I should study more so He moved my last exam to another date. Hahah! Well, at least ,I only have one exam to worry about. :D

My accounting examination went SOOOOOO fine! Hahaha... I answered the easy questions first . I was perplexed ,yes, but I was expecting the examination to be so difficult that I might not be able to answer many questions. Oh well, it was difficult but not as much as I expect it to be. I was soooooooo happy!!! I was actually the 4th one to finish the exam . Cheers! On that day, I also received my ratings for our oral defense during our Management Control System Forum and I got a 1.0 grade ( here in the Philippines, a 1.0 rating is the highest rating a Professor can give ). Cheers! Our paper received a 1.25 remark(another cheers!credits to my group-mate Christian Paul who really drafted the paper.Hugs Christian,you are really gifted!!  ). The weekly written analysis of the cases that we submitted as a group(which I am usually the only one making) also received mostly 1.0 remarks. How could I not be be VERY happy? Thanks to my God who gave me the energy and wisdom to finish the tasks. Accounting was never an easy subject for me. It was my great God who gave me all what I needed! Yeah, I got dark circles under my eyes and I was sleep deprived for several occasions but I am very happy that all my efforts paid off . Wow! How fulfilling!

For my Competitive Strategies in a Global Economy examination, I think the most difficult question was about how the Philippine government should deal with the conflict with China so that the Banana industry can survive. Oh, it was difficult!Generally, I am hopeful that my essay answers could satisfy my very smart Professor (fingers crossed :D).

For my last class, that's my 4pm -7pm class, our Professor decided to move the exam. Oh! I am hopeful I'll do well on this exam next Saturday. I'll give it my best and God will do the rest. \(*0*)/

I will miss my classmates T.T

I thank God for allowing me to meet amazing people. My perspective in life really improved because of them. God is really using different ways for me to learn well His lessons in life. I can really feel that the best is yet to come and I am very thrilled about what will happen to me. Yes, I have plans but I know God loves to surprise me. My plans might fail but I am confident God is just telling me that He has BETTER plans. I failed so many times and over the years I have developed a deep trust to Him because there were so many things that I thought was a "failure" and then later on I realized it was "a way" to realize God's better plans.

Yes, I was physically exhausted last Saturday but my heart was really filled with joy. Even though I arrived home so late and I woke up so early the next day ( I woke up 4 am on the next day because I have duties in the church) , I was reinvigorated by the idea that I am on my way into making my life really fruitful.

I am hopeful that I will only end up in something really very good. If it's not very good,then it's not the end. I am born victorious! Ganbatte Janie!

Photos taken last Sunday (Oct,14) after I went to church. Yes, I strive hard to improve my career but this not my priority. My priority is my spiritual life. After all, this place is not my "real" home. I am just a traveler here. My real home is the new Jerusalem.

I can't imagine how I am juggling church tasks, work and school.I am super busy now.I already lost 3 kilos and it's not really good for me because I am one of those who find it hard to gain weight. T.T   Below are some of the latest things in my life.

Weeks ago, I met Senate President Enrile and had a short chat. He was really nice and really wise.





Last week ,I got a sprained foot. It was really painful!!! I live country side so everyone told me I should see a "manghihilot". Oh boy! It was sooooo painful. Then the doctor said I should have not gone to a "manghihilot" . Hahah! Hence, I am caught in between. Next time (I hope there will be no next time though) if I will get my foot sprained I am not sure which should I follow. You know there are very convincing testimonials about the wonders of "hilot" around my place (count my parents in). I am sure my parents will nag whole day if I won't see our "hilot" expert here.





Ah.. I hope I'll finish graduate school soon!

                                                   Jetskie Ferasol ur still pretty madem
Yeah, I got a crush on someone from one of my  class now, still admire the intelligence of someone from my past and love how truthful the other guy from my past was and now ,  I wish all of their "lovable" features can be contained into that one man that I will meet someday. That will be impossible , I know, but I hope something close to that.

My Joyful Saturday

"If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater

and lesser persons than yourself."

-Desiderata

Author - Max Ehrmann (1872 - 1945)